Hernial truss.



PATENTED OCT. 20, 1903 W. S. RICE. HERNIAL TRUSS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 17, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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Z Patentedpctober 20, 1909;.

PATENT UEETCE.

"WILLIAM SEWARD RICE,

OF ADAMS, NEW YORK.

HERNIAL TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,929, dated October 20, 1903.

Application filed April 17,1903.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM SEWARD RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adams, in the county of Jefferson andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Truss, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trusses for hernia or rupture. In the use of these structures two great diificulties are experienced: First, it is always hard to properly fit the truss, for in arranging the body-straps thepad or padsoften become displaced and in replacing the same a rearrangement of the straps may be necessary, all of which occasions delay and vexation.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a structure which will permit the adjustment of the pad after the truss has been applied and straps properly fitted, said means being very simple and constituting a fastener for holding the pad in place after its adjustment.

A second difficulty experienced is the keeping of the truss in its proper operative position.

It is also the object of the present invention to provide efficient means for properly holding the pad, and, furthermore, to employ a structure in which inward strains of difierent degrees may be imparted to said pad.

The preferred means for accomplishing these various objects is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereiu-- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truss constructed in accordance with the present invention. .Fig. 2 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, through a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the head and pad securing means. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the pad With'the washer removed. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the washer. Fig. 6 is a detail" perspective view of the adjusting-plate employed.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding partsin all the figures of the draw- IDgS.

In the embodiment illustrated a head 10 is employed, having an extension 11, to which is fastened one end of a body-strap 12 by means of a suitable buckle 13. The other end of Serial No. 15 3,137. (No model.)

this body-strap carries two smaller straps 14, ad justably secured thereto by buckles 15 and having fasteners 16 at their free ends, which fasteners are arranged to engage suitable studs 17, arranged upon the rear face of the head. The head is provided with a circular opening 18, and a bearing-disk 19, secured upon the head, surrounds said opening, being preferably held in place by the studs 17 and having a radial series of notches 20 in its inner edge.

The pad employed comprises a body portion 21, havinga knuckle 22 projecting from its operative face. A washer 23 is also used with this body portion and is arranged to be detachably fastened to the rear side thereof. A positioning extension in the form of a horn 24 is also employed, which is adapted to be placed at the lower end of the body 21 and has upwardly-extending ears 25, that maybe is passed a breech-strap 28, one end of which is secured tothe body-strap 12, as shown at 29, the other end having a suitable fastener 30, which 'is arranged to detachably engage the lower stud 17, carried by the head. For the purpose of attaching the pad to the padsupporting means above described an adjusting-plate 31 is rotatably mounted in the opening of the head 10 and has offset terminals 32, carrying outstanding prongs 33, which are arranged to engage in the notches 20 of the bearing-disk, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This adjusting-plate is also provided with a longitudinal slot 34:, and a clamping-screw 35 is passed through the slot and into a suitable socket36, one of said' sockets being located in the washer 23 and one in the rear side of the pad-body. The clamping-screw is provided with a head which bears upon a suitable washer 37, interposed between said head and the. clamping plate. This head does not project above the plane of the rear face of the disk and has a suitable operatingbail 38, pivoted thereto and arranged when not in use to fit within the opening, as shown in Fig. 3.

The structure above described has many 7 practical advantages. In the first place the straps may be properly fitted to the wearer before an accurate adjustment of the pad is made. Furthermore, the peculiar construction of the connection between the pad and the supporting means permits a wide adjustment of said pad. For instance, the pad is rotatable, the clamping-screw acting as a pivot when loosened. Said screw is also longitudinally movable in the slot of the adjusting-plate, and as said plate is revoluble the pad can thus be moved bodily in any direction. Furthermore, the parts are all held by the single clamping-screw, which constitutes secure fastening means. The horn extension is advantageous, as it assists to a very great extent in holding the parts against displacement, especially the body pad and knuckle. Under certain conditions this extension may be dispensed with. Another important feature is the detachable washer. For many ordinary cases this washer may not be necessary; but when a greater inward pressure is desired upon the pad by interposing the washer between said pad and the head the belt will thus be arranged farther away from the operative face of the pad, and when said belt is tightened a greater pressure will of course be brought upon said pad.

While the present embodiment of the invention has been very specifically described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this detailed construction, but may be changed in various ways, as will be apparent upon an inspection of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a truss, the combination with a support, of an adjusting device revolubly mounted on the support, a pad, and means for attaching the pad to the adjusting device, said means being movable upon the adjusting device to points on opposite sides of the axis of rotation thereof.

2. ha truss, the combination with a padsupport, of an adjusting device revolubly' mounted on the support, a pad movable longitudinally upon the adjusting device and engaging the support, and a clamp for holding the pad against movement.

3. In a truss, the combination with a padsupport, of an adjusting device revolubly mounted on the support and having a slot, a pad movable with respect to the adjusting device and engaging the support, and a clamp for holding the pad against movement, said clamp passing through and being movable in the slot of the adjusting device.

4c. In a truss, the combination with a padsupport having an opening, of an adjusting device extending over the opening and having its ends bearing against one face of the support on opposite sides of said opening, a pad fitting over the opening and bearing against the opposite face of said support, and

a clamp passing through the opening and having engagements with the pad and adjusting device.

5. In a truss, the combination with a padsupport having an opening, of an adjusting device having an intermediate portion located within the opening and provided with a slot, the terminals of the device engaging one face of the support, a pad fitted over the opening and bearing against the opposite face of the support, and a clamp passing through the opening and slot of the adjusting device and having an engagement with the pad.

6. In a truss, the combination with a padsupport having an opening and notches surrounding the opening, of an adjusting device revolubly mounted in the opening and having prongs that engage in the notches, a pad, and a clamping-screw passing through the adjusting device and engaging the pad.

'7. In a truss, the combination with a padsupport having an opening, of an adjustingplate revolubly mounted in the opening and having a slot, a pad, and. a device for securing the pad to the plate, said device passing through the slot.

8. In a truss, the combination with a head having an opening, of straps secured to the head, a bearing-disk surrounding the opening in the head and having notches, an adjusting-plate revolubly mounted in the opening and having terminal prongs that engage the notches of the bearing-disk, a pad arranged .against the inner face of the head, and a clampingscrew passing through the slot of the adjusting-plate and engaging the pad.

9. In a truss,'the combination with padsupporting means, of a pad, means for securing the pad to the supporting means, a washer arranged to be placed between the supporting means and pad, a positioning extension, and means for securing the extension either to the pad or washer.

110. In a truss, the combination with a pad,

of a positioning extension having spaced ears arranged to rest against the rear face of the pad, and means for fastening the ears to the pad.

11. In a truss, the combination with apad, of an extension located at one side thereof and immovable with relation to the pad, and a breech-strap having a detachable engagement with the extension.

12. In a truss, the combination with a head, of a pad secured to the head, an extension projecting from the lower side of the pad and having a loop on its rear face, and a strap passing through the loop and detachably fastened to the head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 'IIO my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 

